Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 37.djvu/66

58 nerved him to try his luck again at Gaines' Mill, Va. He was more fortunate this time when he received his mark of honor: was wounded and afterwards joined Mosby's command; was captured and confined at Fort Warren, Mass., till the cruel war was over, and is now living at Berkley, California, as patriotic as ever a good old rebel yet.

The Black Eagle Company was mustered into service with sixty members, twenty-two of whom were killed in battle, twenty-two wounded, two died of disease contracted in camp, seven were exempted (too old at that time for the service, in 1862, the Confederate Congress at that time made that provision for them), six were retired from physical disability. Only one of the first organizations whose name I can now recall who remained with the company from its inception to its ending escaped a gunshot wound, and he was on detached duty.

When the roll was called on the fatal field of Gettysburg before that immortal charge was made eighteen of the first enlisted members answered ready for duty. When the charge had ended eight were dead, nine were wounded and prisoners. Only one escaped an injury. A nobler band of patriots never banded together for any cause. I am sure they would have done their duty as the Spartans did at the Pass of Thermopylae, or as the allied forces did at Balaklava, or anywhere on earth where devotion to a cause or loyalty for a country would have been conspicuous.

It can be truthfully said of them that they gave their bodies to their country and their souls to their God. If in making this roster I have erred, making it as I had to do from memory, I am sure my ex-comrades will pardon me, and I trust they will not think I have been making an effort to discriminate in mentioning them, as I have done the names of Major Harrison and Jesse Barker. It is a difficult task to discriminate or draw a line of distinction when so many gallant and meritorious soldiers were doing their duty.

Carter Gilliam, our orderly sergeant, was killed at Gettysburg and his body left upon the field. He had the roll book of our company with him, and as such it was lost. I will relate an